If you're not using Steam, or you prefer a more straightforward method, ensure you're downloading mods compatible with your game's version, and you're ready to manually manage your mods.
Once the files are in place, you must activate them within the game client: Oxygen Not Included from the main menu.
~/.steam/steam/steamapps/common/OxygenNotIncluded/Mods oxygen not included how to install mods manually
ONI looks for manual mods in a specific "Local" directory rather than the Steam-managed folders. You must navigate to the appropriate path based on your operating system: %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Klei\OxygenNotIncluded\mods\Local\
The extracted folder must contain the mod files (e.g., mod_info.yaml , .dll files) directly, NOT another nested folder. Correct Structure: .../mods/local/ModName/mod_info.yaml If you're not using Steam, or you prefer
Move this folder into the local directory you located in Step 1.
It is important to be aware that while mods greatly expand the game's possibilities, they also come with inherent risks. The game's developer, Klei, is focused on the base game and does not troubleshoot issues caused by third-party modifications. As such, you should only download mods from sources you trust and be prepared for the possibility of crashes or game instability. A good practice is to enable mods one at a time to identify which one might be causing a problem. In the rare event that a mod causes severe instability, you can delete the entire mods directory and unsubscribe from all Steam Workshop mods to restore the game to its default state. You must navigate to the appropriate path based
Many ONI modders release their latest updates on GitHub, which are often safer or more up-to-date than unofficial mirrors. ONI ModDB: A reliable place to find mods outside of Steam.
If the mods or Local folder is missing, simply create it.
